3 Things You Must Consider for Planning a Successful Garden

Today Jordyn of Pretty Lovely Studios is back for this month's garden series helping us plan successful gardens. She's so gracious to be sharing her knowledge with us, and I am so excited to put her advice into action!

Hello there! I am so happy to be back and talking gardening with you guys! With the days getting longer and just a tad bit warmer, I don’t know about you, but I am itching to get outside and start playing in the dirt. Sadly, it is still too early for that. But, there is something you can do while you are waiting inside...start designing your garden! Start researching plant types, veggies you would like to grow, and what flowers you want to be surrounded with.

Where are the sunny and shady spots in your garden?

This is the relaxing part of this process. I want you to spend a whole day out in your yard and track the sun. See where the sun hits and where it completely misses throughout the day. This is important because you don’t want to place a shade loving plant in a sunny spot or vice versa. Peonies love their sun and if you plant them in a shady spot, they aren’t going to give those gorgeous blooms that you have been waiting for.

Also, know the plants that you want to grow and whether they like sun or shade or a little bit of both! Gardening troubles often begin with not knowing your plant and its needs.

What kind of care are you willing to give your garden?

Are you going to spend a little bit of time in your garden every day, or just once every week? Some plants require a little more care than others. Before you plant anything, it’s a good idea to really think about how much time you are willing to give your little guys. Be honest with yourself! If you know you just want to plant once and enjoy, rather than deadhead, water everyday, and check for pests, go for low maintenance plants. Personally, I like spending some time in the garden, weeding, deadheading and planting; it makes me feel so good after I get done, and you might find out that you feel the same way!

What kind of wildlife do you have in your area?

This may not apply to some of you, but to others, this little bit of information could be very important. Planning around wildlife can suck. When I worked at a nursery in Eastern Washington, I had customers come in all the time asking about deer resistant plants. If you live in an area that is populated with deer, think about building a border around your garden full of deer resistant shrubs to keep them away from your precious garden. It can be so heartbreaking to wait all season for a bloom only to come out one morning and see the stem had been chewed off.

What it ultimately boils down to is know the area that you are living in and know the plants that you are planting. Do your research and you will have a gorgeous garden by the time summer is here!

Questions and Answers about last months post

Do terrariums and mini greenhouses do more damage than good? Or do they just look cute?

Yes, terrariums look so good sitting there full of plants and you know what’s even better, they do help! Plants love to be warm and terrariums and mini greenhouses do just that. They hold in heat much better than a large room can. If you don’t have space for a large greenhouse out in the yard, mini versions are a great option to bring inside.

What are some plants that can be outside in the summer and come inside during the winter?

Not all plants can be grown both indoors and outdoors, but there are some that come to mind. Geraniums, Boxwoods, Begonias, Fuchsias and Coleus are a few. One important thing to remember when wanting to bring plants inside or outside is to harden them off. This means putting your plant outside for a little bit more each day. Start with one hour, then 3, then 5, and so on. It would be too much of a shock for them to go from one temperature to the other, so you need to prepare them for the move a little bit each day. This is the same for bringing plants inside as well.

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Boxwood Avenue is a place where we can come together to appreciate beautiful design, old world traditions, and slow living. Be it making Grandma’s famous apple pie, sewing a new dress, or putting together a thoughtful handmade gift; we are passionate about living a simple and fulfilled life.